Pocket for couplings.



No. 835,726 PATENTEDNOV. 13, 1906. w. E. 00mm,

200x51" FOR. COUPLINGS.

APPLIUATION FILED JU'NE12,,1906.

INVENTOR WITNESSES UNITED smrns PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER E. UOFFIN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL A'IALLEABLE OASTINGS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHlO, A CORPO- RATlON OF OHIO.

POCKET FOR COUPLINGS.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed Jane 12. 1906. Serial No. 321,382-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER E. (JOFFIN, of Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Pocket for Couplers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan view of a coupler-pocket embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section; and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the shims.

My invention is designed to overcome in a simple and practical manner the diificulty which has heretofore been experienced with the locomotivecouplers commonly employed, in the use of which as the tires and bearings of the engine wear and the springs become compressed the height of the coupler from the rail diminishes until finally it often happens that the coupler becomes too low to couple properly with the cars: This difiiculty occurs even when the coupler is set originally at a greater height than would otherwise be proper. I have devised means by which this difficulty is entirely overcome in a simple and effective manner without providing special forms of multiple-part couplerpockets and the like.

The invention consists in making the coupler-pocket with an integral pocket portion of greater height than the coupler-shank and providing adjusting devices, insertible and removable horizontally at the front of the pocket, by which as the wear above mentioned takes place the position of the shank in the pocket can be adjusted to compensate for such wear.

As shown in the drawings, I employ shims which are originally set on top of the shank between the shank and the top wall of the coupler-pocket, so as to fill. the spacetherein and which for the purpose of adjustment can be removed horizontally through the flaring mouth of the pocket and replaced below the shank so as to elevate the shank above the bottom of the coupler-pocket. These shims are provided with holes through which the pivot-pin which connects the pocket to the coupler can pass. As an ex- -the pocket, and when ample of the preferable dimensions ofthese parts I prefer to employ a coupler-pocket whose internal vertical height is about two inches greater than the vertical thickness of the coupler-shank and to place on top of the coupler-shank two shims each one inch in thickness. WVhen the engine-body has settied one inch below its original height, one ofthe shims can be taken off the top and placed under the shank in the pocket, thus raising the height of the coupler one inch, and when about one inch takes place the second shim can be transposed in like manner. In this way I can provide for the maximum wear to which the tires and other bearings of the 10- comotive are subjected before final repair or replacement is necessary. The passing'of the pivot-pin through-the shims is important, because after removing the pin the coupler and shims can be removed from the mouth of the coupler-pocket without dismantling place it holds the shims securely without need of other devices for that purpose.

In the drawings which show the preferable construction of my invention, 2 is the coupler pocket having a flaring mouth, the internal cavity ofthe pocket being of greater height than the vertical thickness of the shank of the coupler, and 4 5 are the shims which are placed between the top of the shank and the top wall of the pocket.

6 is the pin by which the coupler-shank is connected to the pocket and which,- as-above stated asses throu h holes 7 in the shims.

1. The combination of a coupler and coupler-pocket, the internal height of the couplerpocket being greater than the vertica thickness of the coupler-shank, and a shim or shims removable horizontally from the front of the pocket for adjusting and holding the shank at variable positions vertically within the pocket, said shims having vertical passages and a pin passing therethrough by which the coupler is connected to the pocket.

2. The combination of a coupler and flaring and integral coupler-pocket, the internal height of the coupler-pocket being greater further wear and settling to the extent of the pivot-pin is in than the vertical thickness of the coupler- In testimony whereof I have hereunto setshglnk, and ;& shim or shims removable horiy and. zontally from the front of thepocket for adjusting and holding the shank at variable WALTER GOFFIN 5 positions vertically within the pocket and a Witnesses:

pliln passing through the shims and coupler- HARRY E. ORR, s ank.

CHAS. E. POPE. 

